Has the Medical Profession asked WHY ?

Thu, Jun 22nd 2006

Note: The writer is commenting on my recent essay "AA is a cult?", and is addressing alcohol addiction and Alcoholics Anonymous with her statement below:

I would like to ask Dr. Dombeck a question. We hear all of the time that "treatment works". However, we also hear the miserable statistics of relapse back into destructive drinking and drug use. People are told when then enter treatment, "only 1 in 10 of you will make it". My question is, has the Medical Profession asked WHY? Have they asked why treatment fails so many? Have they asked why so many people relapse back into destructive drinking and using of drugs? Does the medical profession REALLY BELIEVE it is because these people are all constitutionally incapable? Does the medical profession REALLY BELIEVE it is because these people haven't gotten "right with God"? Does the medical profession REALLY BELIEVE it is because these people don't attend AA meetings and "share" their stories? Have they even considered that the treatment itself is ineffective? Somewhere around 93-95% of the treatment centers in this country use 12-step facilitation.
Sorry, I guess this is more than one question. I just find it hard to believe that in the 21st century the medical profession would treat a disease with faith healing. I really do, and I'm trying hard to understand.

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